Is using RoboCop to frighten mature drivers really the best way that the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration can think of to educate people this holiday season?

The 1980’s was a time when car phones were a sign of wealth and Thomas Brothers guides were essential. Car manufacturers built in boxy and unappealing design elements that emphasized safety and practicality. Fortunately, the movies are a place where imagination intersects with disbelief. During this era, Hollywood resisted practicality and reasonability to produce some of film and televisions most iconic cars. These cars spawned imaginations everywhere. Here is a list of ten top movie cars of the 1980’s.

If you were born after 1985 then the odds of you having ever seen the movie Bullitt are quite slim. The movie featured Steve McQueen as detective Frank Bullitt and featured one of the best car chases in automotive history. Herve Attia, an avid McQueen fan, recently took a trip to San Francisco and re-filmed all the locations in the 10 minute and 53 second chase. The results of which are pretty outstanding.

There have been many films over the years that have tried to encroach in on the Fast and the Furious franchise, however very few have succeeded. In the upcoming film NEED FOR SPEED, Aaron Paul (of Breaking Bad fame) stars as a man framed for a crime he didn’t commit. His goal – get out of prison and settle the score with the man responsible for his false conviction.

If you’ve never seen anything directed by Wes Anderson than you’re missing out on one of the best directors of the last 20 years. His visual style ranges from engaging to hilarious and his story telling abilities are second to none. “CASTELLO CAVALCANTI” is a short film directed by Anderson that shows us what happens when Castello Cavalcanti, a vintage Grand Prix driver, crashes into a statue in his ancestral Italian home.

Believe it or not, but every year in Southern California fans of the cult film MAD MAX gather for what is simply known as, “Wasteland Weekend”. Think of it as a mini Burning Man event, except without the naked hippie chicks, good music and weed. In fact basically it’s just a bunch of comic book loving adults prancing around in costumes pretending to be Mel Gibson before he went all bat-shit crazy on us. Check it out after the jump.

With the onslaught of automotive movies that have emerged within the last few years, it’s good to see a film that caters to those of us who relish two wheels. Why We Ride is a simple movie that explains just what the title says. It tells about our love for the motorcycle, the risks involved, and at days end, why we feel that this is the best form of transportation the world has ever known.

With the recent crop of automotive films such as SENNA, RUSH, and Patrick Dempsey: Racing Le Mans, I figured I’d post something up about a film that very few motor-heads actually know about. Love the Beast was the brainchild of actor Eric Bana, and tells the story of his first car – an old Ford XB Falcon. With appearances from Jeremy Clarkson, Jay Leno and believe it or not Dr. Phill (really?) Love the Beast is one of those rare films that explains exactly why we love cars so damn much.

As I was doing some research on the Australian based Chrysler Valiant Charger, I came upon the short film, Peace & Quiet : Fast Pants – Tight Cars. To be honest it’s quite terrible and it reminds me of the video Sabotage from the Beastie Boys. There is however some kick-ass footage of old Valiant Chargers and classic motorcycles so it’s definitely worth the watch if you’ve got nothing better to do and lots of time to kill. Check it out after the jump.

Confrontation, discussion, laughter, insight and frustration – all things that take place in the front seats of our cars. What you are about to see is a commonly used cinematic shot that’s been featured 100’s of times by directors all over the world. Big thanks to SuperCutOnline for putting together the best tribute we’ve seen to date on the front seat of the automobile! Click through and check it out!

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